A photo

Here is the photo I mentioned in yesterdays blog. It would not upload yesterday for some reason.

If it ain't one thing, it's another...

I came home yesterday and my roommate told me we had a problem in the house. Our water heater was leaking water. I knew what needed to be done. I called the handyman and he arrived less than 15 minutes. He let all the water out of the heater so the bathroom was full of water. He then took the water heater out, and told me he would bring a new one today. He installed the new and the water is hot...see the photo above of my new purchase.

The next photo is of my light switch. I know that might seem a little weird, but I wanted to explain how water heaters work here. The red switch on the right is for the water heater. If I want warm water I should turn it on an hour before I want to shower so that it will be hot. That means if I want hot water for a shower in the morning I need to get up an hour ealier and turn the heater on, this in now problematic since I have to be at work at 7:30am. I decided to pay the $60 to have a timer installed tomorrow so that I don't have to do that anymore. Life's too short!

Being Assertive!

For more than a year and half I have been working on being more asseritive. I got to try out my skills this week.

On Monday a drunk guy came into my class and just sat down. I asked him his name and a bit of other information. He just started rambling on and on. I asked him to step out of the room and I explained to him that the students in the class had registered for our classes and paid for them months ago. I told him he was welcome to come to the next registration in January, but that he was unable to attend at this moment. I was so thankful for the Father's help in this. Then, I causally went back to teaching.

Yesterday, I met with my new boss and put my 'demands' on the table. I found that asking for what I wanted paid off. I got everything I wanted and I just asked! What a learning experience.

More about the new job later...

Sharpening your interpersonal skills

We all need sharpening in every way, but this week I was able to go to a workshop in order to grow in my skills with people. The one area I found especially useful was dealing with grief and helping others do the same. In the activities that we did I was shocked to realize how much loss I have experienced. It was neat to see that all of us who move overseas experience similar losses but also to note that those who are refugees here or around the world experience even more loss since it is likely that they may go home again.

The workshop was great but I am excited to get back to 'life as usual'. Traveling a month ago, then having our holiday month, having my parents visit, and finishing with the week long worshop were all great. I learned through each experience.

A visit from my parents

So my mom and dad made it a full ten days here. They were able to see the sights and my day to day life here. They also visited some homes of the locals to get a taste of what culture is like and the food too! We had a good time. Hopefully they are half way back to the states by now.

another thing that would never happen at home...

So I was with a friend from a neighboring country shopping (my friend loves to shop). Anyway, I was trying on a sweater that I thought would look nice, but it was a little snug. Another woman was looking at clothes near me and asked "How much do you weigh"? Can you believe it? And I was supposed to answer. I repied "it's a secret". She seemed happy with that although I am sure she would have loved to know. Some other 'normal' things around here is to ask are: "How much do you weigh?", "How much did you pay for that?", "How much is your rent?", "How much do you make?", and the like. I have found ways to avoid answering most of these questions although I sometimes come clean with how much something costs. Just another thing to adjust to. ( :

this wouldn't happen at home...

So this is the month of fasting and feasting, and since I am doing more of the feasting this year I think I am gaining weight. Every time I see a friend from here the first thing that comes out of their mouths is...you look fatter. It's actually normal and not wrong to point out things that aren't possitive. According to the scales I haven't gained weight but my close are fitting a littler snugger than even a month ago. Yuck! I even joined a joined a gym this month in order to fight this...but it's not working. Maybe once I am eating more normally it will all balance out. At least I hope it will!

Another funny thing that wouldn't happen at home...it was around midnight last night and I heard sirens and even saw the flashing lights in my room. I looked out to see what was going on and an ambulance had just pulled up. Many of my neighbors were out on their balconies looking to see what was happening in the neighborhood too. Then a guy got out of an ambulance carrying a gurney and shouting "Where is so and so?" (I couldn't hear the exact name). I saw my neighbors across the street pointing to my building saying...he lives in that one. Not like 911 when the number comes up automatically huh??? I have no idea what happened after that I must have fallen asleep.

Oh..I have been asked by a friend who is a director to be in one of his videos. I need to get more information about what is involved and I haven't for sure said no (although I am leaning in that direction). It's funny because here I am worthy of being in a video, but at home a director wouldn't give me a second look. I will let you know on this one what happens.